[Published: Friday March 23 2018]
Mali PM pulls out of visit after rocket attacks
BAMAKO, 23 March. - (ANA) - Malian Prime Minister Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga has called off a planned visit to the contested northern town of Kidal in the wake of rocket attacks on French and United Nations bases in the area, according to people travelling with him.
Mr Maiga, who is on a national tour ahead of elections in July, had pledged to include the Tuareg bastion in the journey.
But this morning the bases on the outskirts of Kidal were hit by rockets. The French force, Barkhane, said five of its soldiers had been injured.
The last time a high-ranking politician from Bamako visited Kidal was in May 2014 when Prime Minister Moussa Mara spent several hours there.
The visit was followed by a disastrous Malian military offensive to retake the town from separatist groups. At least 60 soldiers were killed. - (ANA) -
AB/ANA/23 March 2018 - - -
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